PH to Acquire Equipment to Detect Missile Deployment

10 Mei 2018

Mischief reef South China Sea (photo : hongkongfp)


PH to Acquire Modern Anti-Missile Equipment

The Philippine government is acquiring a state-of-the art equipment to detect missile deployment after admitting it has yet to verify China’s reported installation of such defense system in the South China Sea.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the country’s new missile detection technology was “forthcoming,” citing information from National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

“National Security Adviser told me that there’s a technology that we need that we still don’t have to be able to verify it for ourselves,” Roque said when asked if the government’s knowledge about the missile system reportedly installed by China.

“We’re awaiting (delivery) so that we can have finally our own capacity to verify for ourselves,” he added.

Pending the arrival of such equipment, Roque said the government could get information about China’s reported missile deployment from third-party resources. “But that would not be first party verification,” he added.

China has reportedly quietly installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile system on three territories in the South China Sea, including in one reef declared by an international tribunal as part of Philippine territory. It has defended the deployment of defensive facilities in the region, saying it has indisputable sovereignty over the territory.

Roque insisted that government was concerned over China’s reported missile deployment, and assured all diplomatic initiatives would be taken to address the matter.

“We are viewing this with much concern because any possible scenario that would encourage military action in our backyard, in our Exclusive Economic Zone and in the—one of the busiest sea lanes in the world is troublesome,” he said.

“So like the rest of the world, we value freedom of navigation. But we have more of an interest because this is covered by our EEZ,” he added.

The Palace official however does not consider China’s reported missile deployment a betrayal of the country’s trust.

“I do not know why it’s even betrayal of trust. Why is it betrayal and trust?” he said.

Roque instead expressed confidence that the country would not be a target of China’s missiles due to the revitalized bilateral relations.

“You can’t ignore the fact that because of very good relations, we can be confident that that China as a country does not view us as a threat,” he said. “There is no reason why assuming they have missiles that they can use, they will use it on us. That’s all that we are saying,” he added.

For now, Roque assured that the government was trying its best to address the latest situation in the West Philippine Sea. He said the matter was being handled by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“We have to deal now with existing realities and ang sinasabi nga ni Presidente is what the President says is] we are trying to do the best that we can under existing circumstances. We are exploring all diplomatic options, which does not mean we are not doing anything,” he said.

(Manila Bulletin)